Training dogs, fixing spectacles, tailoring: B.C. inmates learn a skill and help out at the same time

SURREY, BC., November 14, 2014 -- Colleen Kerr (r), Crime Reduction Strategy Manager for Surrey and Kim Marosevich from the Surrey Animal Resoure Society with Squeeze the dog at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre in Surrey, BC., November 14, 2014. The inmates at the pre trial centre recently made a bunch of coats for dogs that were donated to the Surrey pound, and they are now working on dog beds for the poundNICK PROCAYLO
/ PROVINCE

An inmate at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre works at repairing a bicycle.

When most people picture what goes on behind the walls of B.C.’s correctional facilities, they probably don’t visualize an inmate carefully sewing a jacket for a dog at Surrey’s animal shelter.

However, the tailoring program at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre teaches those waiting for their day in court the skills to tailor uniforms, sew inmate clothing, make dog jackets, and anything else they can dream up.

“I offer them an opportunity to do meaningful work, to help them develop work skills,” says Instructor Mazzocca, who runs the tailor shop (some staff prefer their first names not be used). “It’s nice for them to have a feeling of accomplishment.”

In addition to core programs designed to reduce risk factors that contribute to crime, B.C. Corrections offers more than 100 work and vocational programs at nine correctional centres across the province. The goal of is to teach the value and importance of work by helping inmates gain the skills and confidence they need to find jobs when they leave jail. At the same time, they earn a small amount of money.

In many cases, the work the offenders do benefits taxpayers and the local community.

The 20-25 inmates working in Surrey pretrial’s tailor shop do practical work such as hemming and sewing patches on corrections officers’ uniforms, making and repairing inmate clothing and refurbishing mattresses and pillows.

They also get a chance to flex their creative impulses and help where they may have caused harm in the past.

“It helps them develop a sense of accomplishment and self-worth that they’re contributing to something that matters to them,” Mazzocca says.

Each year, inmates make countless Christmas stockings that are sent to a school for children to decorate. The stockings are then donated to the Surrey Christmas Bureau. They have also made Halloween costumes for kids at a family drop-in centre, embroidered baby blankets and sewn mittens and scarves for a local shelter.

Their most recent project involved making dog coats embroidered with slogans such as, “Adopt Me” for animals at the Surrey Animal Resource Centre.

“I liked the challenge of getting the embroidery print figured out and the feeling of giving back to the community. I’m always happy to work on projects that are contributing back into the community,” says one anonymous inmate in the program.

Participants in the bike program at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre are also giving back. After completing a five-week certificate program, graduates work on bicycles that will be sent to people in developing countries.

Volunteers with the Compassionate Resource Warehouse collect abandoned bicycles from Victoria-area police departments and delivers them to the jail. After they are repaired, the bikes are put in shipping containers and sent to countries such as Liberia and Malawi.

“This is an opportunity for them to complete things and have some measure of success,” says correctional officer Steve Bosence. “Whether they want to admit it or not, it’s really important. You can see maybe a sense of pride.”

The bicycles make a huge difference to those who receive them. It means a doctor in a small village can visit more patients, or a parent can hold down a job and support his family.

“It’s really basic transportation but very, very key,” says Compassionate Resource Warehouse president Dell Marie Wergeland. “Bikes mean a great deal more freedom and more opportunity.”

Many inmates customize their bikes and all put a sticker with their name on the seat. Wergeland says that when the inmates are shown photos of the bicycles overseas, they recognize their work and it gives them a sense of dignity.

“They have done something for someone in need,” she says. “When you do something for someone in need there is a change, there is a difference in their lives.”

FIVE INNOVATIVE INMATE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Prince George Regional Correctional Centre

Inmates in the gardening program grow vegetables that are donated to local soup kitchens and food banks. A greenhouse built by inmates was also recently donated to the Cedars Christian School gardening program.

Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge

The SPCA teaches inmates to train and care for dogs in a program that rehabilitates strays for placement in the community. Inmate crews also do general maintenance and kennel cleaning at local SPCA centres.

Nanaimo Correctional Centre

Inmates undergo classroom instruction in forest fire procedures and get practical training working with fire-suppression equipment to earn a B.C. Forestry Certificate. Inmates also clean and repair fire hoses for B.C.’s wildfire crews.

North Fraser Pretrial Centre, Port Coquitlam

An eyeglass collection program sees inmates repair, measure and sort donated eyeglasses, which are then collected by the Third World Eye Care Society Canada and sent to people in developing countries.

Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Maple Ridge

A special inmate crew incubates, hatches and raises young salmon fry, orchestrates their release and collect new eggs from returning adults at a fish hatchery managed by FRCC, the Alouette River Management Society, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry of Environment.

The annual 10-day event attracts thousands of people — riders and fans — to the mountain resort

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